Faith and Political Engagement: Latina/o Protestants At the Intersection

Interviews, Latinx Congregations, Participant Observation, Politics, Race & Ethnicity, Theology Frame

From the outside, Allen Temple Ministerios Hispanos (ATMH) is unimposing. Located deep in poverty-stricken East Oakland California, ATMH’s neighbors include two fellow protestant churches, a bar and a liquor store. It’s the week before Thanksgiving. Inside the Baptist church, Esther, the pastor’s wife and church leader, is finishing up the announcements for the close to…

Refocus the Conversation: About “Attracting Families”

Age & Generations, Culture Frame, Ecology Frame, Families, Interviews, Program Evaluation, Religious Education/Socialization, Timeline Exercise

Is your congregation attempting to reach out to “young families?” Jan Edmiston works at the Presbytery of Chicago and has a personal blog at at achurchforstarvingartists.wordpress.org. Below is part of a 2015 post on the topic: Almost every church I’ve ever known has wanted to Attract Young Families.  The reasoning behind this includes the following: If we don’t…

Congregational Conflict: Listening to the Conflict

Congregational Conflict, Focus Groups, Interviews, Process Frame, Surveys

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction — there will be differences in opinion and perception in every day life. However, examining how your congregation deals with conflict can provide needed insights into the life of the congregation. Some congregations suppress conflict, whereas others embrace it and see it as a sign of vitality…